PAMF Health Blog

Kids need to move. From school-age up through young adulthood, kids should get at least 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. Unfortunately, most kids aren’t getting the recommended amount of daily exercise. The result? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Here are some tips and information from Mona Luke-Zeitoun, M.D., a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, to help make physical activity a regular part of your child’s life for optimal good health.

Although parents naturally to want to protect their children from the ups and downs of life, it’s not always possible, especially as kids get older. Accordingly, one of the most important things you can do is to help your child develop the resilience, confidence and skills they need to handle problems and setbacks successfully. In this blog post, Manisha Panchal, M.D., a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, answers these common questions and offers tips to help parents teach their kids how to stay healthy and balanced even when the going gets tough. Read More about Teaching Your Child Resilience

Colon cancer, also called colorectal cancer, this is a cancer that begins in the colon (large intestine) or the rectum. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most colorectal cancers start as abnormal growths in the lining of the colon or rectum called polyps. Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer.

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million people in the United States have heart failure and that number is expected to rise to nearly 8 million in 2030. So what is heart failure and how can you avoid it?

Nap: these three letters together sound very sweet to most parents. “These daytime shut-eye sessions let your child process the learning and growth he or she is experiencing during the day and provide an important opportunity to rest and recuperate,” says Audrey Hall, M.D., a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Naps also ensure that your child doesn’t get overtired and cranky, and give parents chance to recharge their batteries, too. To determine your child’s optimal nap schedule, Dr. Hall offers these helpful tips.

Many of us rush through the day with only a vague awareness of gulping down breakfast, the autopilot commute and the non-stop blur of meetings and projects. The result: stress, burnout, anxiety and depression. But you don’t need to feel powerless. Practicing mindfulness can help.

“Mindfulness is about paying attention to what you are experiencing right now with genuine interest and a willingness to accept that experience, says Kaveri S. Patel, D.O., a family medicine doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. “The health benefits are many. Studies show that mindfulness reduces stress and anxiety, and provides us with a sense of well-being and the ability to notice the joyful moments in life. It also helps us relate to each other from a kinder place, making work a more positive experience and giving us tools to better cope with challenges.” Read More about How Mindfulness Can Help at Work

Puberty – it’s a time of many changes for your child. While kids often struggle with the timing of physical changes as compared to their peers, parents may find the emotional changes to be the most challenging. “One minute your child is yearning for independence, the next he or she wants to be close to you. It’s a time of constant rebalancing,” says Robin Drucker, M.D., a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. In this blog post, Dr. Drucker answers common questions parents have about puberty. Read More about The Facts About Puberty

About This Blog

Welcome. This blog offers articles and general health tips from PAMF medical experts to promote wellness and health education in the community. It does not provide personalized medical advice - if you have a personal medical question, please contact your doctor directly to discuss. Thank you for visiting our blog.